A Ghost of a Smile
A Harry Potter Fanfic
By Toffrox33
When Bellatrix escaped from Azkaban, she had forgotten me.
Oh she remembered enough of me to seek me out, that much was true. But I had memories of the two of us as young girls playing with dolls, as teenagers in the Slytherin common room gossiping together for hours and as adults standing as Maid of Honor at each other's weddings. Bella on the other hand, remembered the two of us as young girls ganging up on Andy, as teenagers constantly competing for the title of 'Favourite Daughter' and as adults, joining the death eaters together.
Perhaps she would have remembered, if she had wanted to. I've spoken to others out of Azkaban who remember happy relationships with their families. The dementors took their happy memories and they remembered them and got them back. But not my sister. She is content to stay the way she is, without those memories.
As I stand here in my own home, surrounded by aurors, my wand in the hand of my own pink-haired niece, I remember when Bella first came to visit after her escape, with her memories changed forever. I turn to my husband, who is being shackled, about to be taken away from me and sent to the same hell my sister went to.
"Lucius." I whisper fearfully. He turns to look at me, and as he does, I realize he is fearful too. I am the only one in the room who recognizes that spark in his eye. For a moment I think he might say he's sorry, or that he loves me, or give me some words of comfort. But instead he just reaches out a shackled hand and touches my cheek. In that second, I remember every pleasant memory we've shared together, followed immediately by every unpleasant one. I am overcome with a stronger fear than I thought was possible. "Don't forget me, my love." I whisper. "Please."
Lucius lowers his hand. The aurors start to take him away. As he his leaving the room, he turns and catches my eye. He shakes his head and the ghost of the smile passes across his face- a rarity for him.
And then he is gone and I pray that that smile meant what I thought it did. That he would never forget me.
Months later, when he escapes Azkaban and returns to me, he tells me he did as I said. I believe him.
My sister may have forgotten me, but Lucius made sure he didn't.
A.N- Written for the prompt 'Don't forget me my love, please' from the Prompt of the Day thread at Hogwarts Online. I would love reviews for this, since the plotline came very unexpectedly!
Toff.x